Scan

Suppose we have a list of expressions which in the example below is a simple
list of integers.  Now suppose we need to define a function (f) for each
element of this list. The best way to make the assignments is using Scan.  A
first attempt at this is given in the next cell.

Next we see that our attempt to make assingments for (f) didn't work, and the
reason is that assignment (f[#]=Prime[10^7+#]&) evaluated before it was give
integers.

Global`f

The solution is to make the assignment a function with the HoldAll or
HoldFirst attribute as I do in the next cell.

Global`f

We could have made the above assingments using Map as I do in the next cell.  
In this case Map makes a list of prime numbers that would be returned if it
were not for the semi-colon at the end.  Using Scan for this task is more
efficient than using Map because Scan never builds up an expression to
return.

Global`f

The next example makes assingments for  f[g1[5,3]],  f[g2[8,9]],  and  
f[g3[12,13]].  

Global`f

However, what we got above might not be the desired result. What if you  wanted to make assignments for f[5], f[3], f[8], etc. In that case we can get  the desired result by giving Scan the level specification {2}.  Scan then  makes assingments for all subexpressions of (expr) at level 2.  Scan can work  with any of the level specifications that I exaplain earlier.

Global`f

Heads Option

Scan has a Heads option with the default setting (Heads→True).  In the
next example I have Scan work on level {2} of expr with the setting (Heads
→True).  Because of the (Heads→True) setting assignments are made
for f[g1], f[g2], f[g3] where g1, g2, g3 are heads of sub-expressions of
(expr).

Global`f

Created by Mathematica  (May 16, 2004)

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